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Is there really a way? No problem, this is how you do it: Step 1: Obtain the envelopes with “On Government Service” with the Logo of the Ministry clearly printed on the left-hand corner on top. A professional thief will do this by stealing or “seasoned” collusion. Step 2: Go to the Post Office and fill in the standard postage form. The staff at the Post Office will issue you a slip stating the tracking number. Perfect, the articles to be sent would be paid by the Government. Step 3: Track the sent articles via the Singapore Post web: www.singpost.com at your convenience in the comfort of your own home. ———————————————————————————- On 23 December 2014, we received a delivery slip from the Post Office stating that a “Registered Article, Tracking No. RA 121 377 736 SG” has failed to deliver to us. Knowing that it is improbable that the Ministry will send us a Christmas present, we will not collect it at the Post Office. The related Ministry can track the aforesaid item on the Singapore Post Web and contact us if you want to know who the Tortfeasor is. Please email to us or call our Office at +65 9338 4746 during office hours and one of our Consultants will attend to you. We will leave it to the Government to decide how similar incidents in future could be avoided to ensure that we are not being robbed. Anyway, Merry Christmas! 24 December 2014 |
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First Sunday of Advent, Year B, First Reading: Extracted from the prophet Isaiah 63:16-17,64: 1,3-8 You, Lord, yourself are our Father, ‘Our Redeemer’ is your ancient name. Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways and harden our hearts against fearing you? Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance. Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down! – at your Presence the mountains would melt. No ear has heard, no eye has seen any god but you act like this for those who trust him. You guide those who act with integrity and keep your ways in mind. You were angry when we were sinners; we had long been rebels against you. We were all like men unclean, all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing. We have all withered like leaves and our sins blew us away like the wind. No one invoked your name or roused himself to catch hold of you. For you hid your face from us and gave us up to the power of our sins. And yet, Lord, you are our Father; we the clay, you the potter, we are all the work of your hand. |
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First Sunday of Advent, Year B, Responsorial: Psalm 79:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 Response: Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim throne. O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you have given your strength. And we shall never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name. |
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Let’s compare with what’s written in Hebrews 6:4-6 (Encouragements-76): 4 As for those people who were once brought into the light, and tasted the gift from heaven, and received a share of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the goodness of God's message and the powers of the world to come 6 and yet in spite of this have fallen away - it is impossible for them to be brought to the freshness of repentance a second time, since they are crucifying the Son of God again for themselves, and are holding him up to contempt. —————————————————————————————— Saint Paul, are they really “hopeless cases” - “無可救藥” ? |
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First Sunday of Advent, Year B, Second Reading: Extracted from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace. I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.
Gospel Acclamation Psalm 84:8 Alleluia, alleluia! Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help. Alleluia! |
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First Sunday of Advent, Year B, Gospel Reading: Extracted from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 13:33-37 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’
Sharing: It was the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year B) on 30 November 2014. The Readings that were read in the Eucharistic Celebrations all over the world on that day are shown above: First Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8, Responsorial: Psalm 79:2-3, 15-16, 18-19, Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 & Gospel Reading: Mark 13:33-37. We have extracted the Homilies of Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI & Pope Francis I based on the aforesaid Readings to share with you, so that you could similarly be encouraged:
HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II Sunday 28 November 1999
This year there is another reason to begin Advent with deeper and more heartfelt enthusiasm. On the Holy Night and on Christmas Day there will be, in fact, the long-awaited opening of the Holy Door of St Peter's and of the Lateran Basilica.
In a certain sense, then, this Advent is an immediate preparation for the special time of grace and forgiveness which is the Great Jubilee, when we will commemorate with gratitude and joy the 2,000 years since the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, enlightened by the Word of God and sustained by the Lord's grace, let us set out on our way towards the Lord who comes. But for what reason does "God come", or, as the Bible often says, does "he visit us"? God comes to save, to bring his children into the communion of his love.
2. I am pleased to begin this time of expectation together with your parish community. This occasion is also a good opportunity for me to thank your parish and all the other parishes of Rome for the great efforts they have made to prepare for the Holy Year, especially through the City Mission. How many faithful, priests, religious and laity have become personally involved in proclaiming and bearing witness to the Gospel! The message of Christ has thus reached almost every man and woman in our city. Let us continue this work, which involves all believers, and make Rome ready to live to the full the grace of the Jubilee event.
In this respect I am pleased to repeat today what I recently wrote to all Romans: "Christian Rome, do not hesitate to open the doors of your homes to the pilgrims. Joyously offer fraternal hospitality" (Letter to the Romans on the approach of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, 1 Nov. 1999, n. 4). The city and Diocese of Rome will be able properly to welcome the pilgrims, who will come here for the Jubilee from every part of the world, only if they first open themselves in mind and heart to the ineffable mystery of the Word made flesh.
To open the doors of the soul to the great mystery of the Incarnation by welcoming into our lives the Son of God who comes into the world: here is our task for this Advent. For the Christian communities present and active in the capital, this is the essential condition for making the journey of conversion offered by the celebration of the Holy Year and for acknowledging Jesus Christ as the only Saviour of the world: yesterday, today and for ever.
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